World No. 5 Jessica Pegula was caught on a live microphone calling world No. 3 Mirra Andreeva “a diva” who “needs to be humbled” during a practice session at the WTA Finals in Indian Wells. The WTA has since apologised for failing to tell players that the microphones were on.

The conversation between the American and her coach Mark Knowles took place after her practice session with Andreeva, livestreamed on the WTA’s YouTube channel, and was picked up by its microphones. Pegula also targeted Andreeva’s coach, Conchita Martinez. The WTA has removed the footage.

“Conchita’s always been very nice to me, but I lost a little respect for her,” Pegula said. “She’s a diva. She needs to be humbled. Conchita eggs on her behaviour.”

Pegula also praised the 19-year-old’s game. With “Coco’s mentality”, she told Knowles, Andreeva would be better than Coco Gauff.

The WTA takes “full responsibility”

The WTA said it took “full responsibility for failing to inform our players and their teams that microphones, in place to give fans a livestream of the players’ practice, were active on the courts”. “We sincerely apologise for failing to meet our responsibility to ensure players and coaches were properly informed,” its statement said.

“The microphones were intended to capture the ambient sounds of tennis, not player or coach conversations,” the WTA added. “We are continuing with live streaming of practice but there will not be any audio.”

Pegula’s representative said she had been “completely unaware” that the conversation could be heard by the courtside microphones, and that she had contacted those involved to apologise.

Pegula and Andreeva in different WTA Finals groups

The WTA Finals are played in Indian Wells from November 8 to 15, before moving to Charlotte from 2027. Pegula, 32, is in a group with Coco Gauff, Elena Rybakina and Linda Noskova. Andreeva is in the other group, with Aryna Sabalenka, Elina Svitolina and Karolina Muchova. The two players can only meet in the semi-finals or the final.